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AMBROSIA
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SUBSTANCE AMBROSIA
Substance Ambrosia, simply referred to as Ambrosia, is an unstable and toxic amber fluid with various industrial applications following extensive quantum stabilization processing. Named after the food of the Greek Gods, Ambrosia is a substance found in abundance following its proliferation from the Black Tuesday Incident, and was determined by contemporary research as the source of the Radovich Exposure Disease mutations.
By 2070, ambrosia and its byproducts saw extensive industrial and biological applications.
Controversial Studies
Contrary to contemporary studies on Ambrosia, the Grimaldi records lay claims to its purest form allegedly healed and cured all forms of known earthly disease when used with the mythic Philosopher’s Stone. This gave rise to the mythical existence of the Fountain of Youth following the Grimaldi’s arrival in the New World which allegedly housed the purest reservoir of Ambrosia. Many have attributed its use as an elixir of life and longevity, as well as the next purported key to human evolution. Notable records of ancient Sumerians use of “mysterious crystals” for healing, and that it was among the myriad tools used by Archimedes to sink Roman ships during the Siege of Syracuse.
Hazardous Effects
According to early research done by Dr. Artyom Radovich in 2036, despite its usefulness as an energy resource, ichorium can affect living organisms - causing unprecedented mutations if not handled with care. Due to its mysterious properties unbound by conventional science and speculated to not be native to earth, exposure to pure icorium requires regular treatment to slow down the assimilation process. To safely harvest and neutralize these minerals, human operators are often prescribed with nanite inhibitors, and armed with various equipment such as the Argonaut combat nanosuit (made from ambrolymer colloid and ambryester) during deployment to counteract the risk of Radovich Exposure Disease.
Applications
The substance has appeared throughout history and was utilized in different ways. Ambrosium has a high energy yield, and has remained a valuable resource since its exposure to the modern world. The proliferation of ambrosia since the Black Tuesday incident, as well as its recurring state in Ember Weather had brought a technological revolution to the world, with most of the latest technology and goods now dependent on it.
ACCLIMITIZED DERIVATIVES
Ambrostone
A stabilized mineral form of Ambrosia left behind by Ember Storms that are used as battery units or to power and sustain Ravens. Though it had made several appearances in recorded history. Its altermagnetic properties allow it to aid in the prevalent spintronic systems for quantum and neuromorphic computation pertaining to Ravens’ research and development efforts. In some places, ambrostones are used as standard currency - depending on their refinement qualities.
IMC-46
Industrialized Mineral Catalyst is a highly-sensitive mineral with outstanding altermagnetic properties to power and maintain Raven’s complex frame circuit. Manufactured from extensive industrialized Ambrosia in 2046, IMC-46’s excellent altermagnetism makes it a popular catalyst for production of Raven cores. Utilizing black body quantum radiation, IMC-46 are also used in production of directed-energy weapons and recursive targeting systems.
Ambrosite Frittage Agglomerate
Compound synthetic product used in strengthening alloys once Draper point is achieved. A key compound in testing high-tolerance material and complementing existing metals.
Compound Kol (Ambrohol)
A chunky, organic compound refined for use as an anesthetic for Prometheans with equalized properties to mitigate Ambrosian molecular response. Due to its alcohol-like effects, however, it is popularized by Prometheans as “Ambrohol” and completely abstained by Prometheans of certain faiths. Please use it responsibly.
Ambryester
Derived from ambrosia and advanced synthetic, Ambryester are utilized as a more durable substitute for synthetic fibers.
Ambrolymer Colloid
A gel-like substance acting as a catalyst for polymerization that allows pure Ambrosia to be safely handled with minimal risk of contamination. Utilized as an isolation coating, the compound bonding effect of this substance is able to interrupt the volatization effect of ambrosia. When applied with decantation, it can help to separate and contain ambrosia from various objects.
RADOVICH EXPOSURE DISEASE
Despite the divide of the world, humankind faced a new threat. The Radovich Exposure Disease, colloquially called Reds, refers to any living creature exposed to ambrosia and underwent drastic mutations. While the origin of ambrosia is debated since the event of Black Tuesday, the Ember Phenomena is thought to be the by-product of the major concentration of destabilized ambrosite energy released into the atmosphere - further complicated by the exchange of nuclear missiles between the superpowers.
Individuals or creatures that went through complete infection without dying display aggressive behaviors and may undergo various mutations depending on their environment. Infected are harder to kill due to the layer of hardened obsidian-like shards formed over their skin. Despite the common myth established around its misleading name, the RED is not transmittable by direct contact. Instead, it is a transfusion-transmitted infection that can only be spread through blood, where a certain dosage of Ambrosia present can be contracted.
Lemurian Cores (LC)
These polygonal cores with terraced pattern spiralling inward are imbued with a certain concentration of ambrosia. It is found that Reds are swiftly eliminated by removing or destroying these cores directly. It is speculated that the density of the patterns correlates with the respective Red’s complexity and behavioral tendencies. Upon retrieval, these cores can be used as a substitute for crafting or as alternative currencies. The more complex the density pattern of the cores, the more value it holds.
Anti-Red Companies
To combat the Reds without the risk of infections or exposure, standing governments began to adopt Ravens in combat - leading to a high demand of android production and the rise of android-oriented private military companies worldwide. This ironically led to a higher necessity of industrialized ambrosia. Alongside Ravens, Prometheans are also employed as an alternative for those that can afford their service.
Ember Phenomena
The Ember Phenomena (colloquially called Red Weather) is inclement weather that disrupts all sorts of technologies on hand. Ember Weathers are characterized by their red-colored effects, as a result of ambrosia radiation in the atmosphere. Following the Black Tuesday disaster, a high amount of ambrosia was dispersed into the air, giving birth to unstable red weathers all around the globe, which hampered both civilian and military affairs alike. Thus, many armed forces tend to sweep the area of operations using the F.E.A.R (Front Equilibrium Acclimator Resonator) to stabilize the climate for a limited time in order to conduct their battle plans. Though the success percentile for contemporary deployments are around 65-75%, with marginal errors unaccounted for. Sometimes, FEAR could not process all the data, which leads to rogue weather during an operation. Abrupt monsoons, sandstorms, tornados, and earthquakes may occur as a result.
Asphodel Fields (AF)
Featuring a deep cross-shape chasm and riddled with obsidian-like tendrils that grow from the ground, an Asphodel Field is filled with altermagnetic conductivity for both REDs and Prometheans.
According to Neo-Orphists’ claims, these fields are believed to be gateways to Tartarus where REDs originate from, contradicting the contemporary understanding of the RED infection. Regardless, these fields are created by the Ember Phenomena and are densely populated with REDs and filled with Ambrosia byproducts formed by the weather. As such, Asphodel Fields are often targeted by corporations and mercenary companies for its abundance in resources to fund their own wars.
Oneiric Anomaly (Realm of Dreams)
Due to a high concentration of altermagnetism and tangled reverberation frequencies, the Oneiric Anomaly refers to a space where reality is distorted. Researchers believed that these anomalies are bridges to an unknown realm, and could be the key to learning more about the origins of ambrosia. On the other hand, Neo-Orphists alleged these gates to be Kronos’s attempt to break free from Tartarus. Through stabilizing these anomalies by containing the threat within, mankind may yet persist. Within these realms of dreams, explorers and operators may encounter certain trials influenced by traces of unknown frequencies - which can particularly empower or weaken them as they progress. When the final portal of an anomaly is sealed, the stabilized reverberation will achieve its required equilibrium and leave behind rewards - or so the story goes. The Oneiric Anomaly is also attested in Norse mythology as the "Wild Hunt".
While little is known about the Oneiric Anomalies, it is speculated that a third party is actively involved in identifying and leaving behind instructions for those that stumbled upon these gates to act.
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R.A.V.E.N
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R.A.V.E.N
Overview
R.A.V.E.Ns (Recursive Avatars; Versatile ENhancements) are designed as replaceable combatants, armed with the latest technology and equipment, to serve as surrogate fighting units. First introduced in 2055 by Corvus Industries, Ravens began to surface in armed forces around the world. By the late 2060s, most Ravens on the market are produced by either Kalvis Manufacturing Company or Vulgate Industries and saw extensive service with both the United Coalition and the Yalta Accord. They are often seen complementing law enforcement, PMCs, and security companies. However, as the war progressed, both the Coalition and the Accord began manufacturing their own templates, albeit with little successes due to reliability issues. Despite this, both superpowers eventually adopted dedicated Raven forces to make up for the heavy casualties sustained on the battlefield which dwindled much of the able-bodied population. These Ravenite units were complemented by a fraction of human commissioned officers to advise and lead on the battlefield.
With the introduction of Ravens, human casualties were drastically reduced, but prompted the desperate competition for ambrosium - a rare element found in the wake of the Ember Phenomena, which further escalated the ongoing global conflicts. The standard form of Ravens are often women, due to their naturally smaller profiles and the predominantly female developers responsible, following the devastating prelude of the war that saw a drastic reduction of male population. Retired Ravens were often scrapped and recycled, with their combat records retained to augment existing Ravens or create new templates to manufacture. Perceptions of Ravens are generally mixed, with some praising their stout role in the defense of humanity, while others deemed them as harbingers that would inevitably replace humans altogether.
A Raven's anatomy may vary, depending on the manufacturer and their model, but shares a standardized template of vital organs. These includes a power core made of IMC-46, nanofiber circuits that function as a nervous system with corresponding filtering modules, malleable materials in place of muscle sinews and custom furnishing. Utilizing Frangible's original concept of a self-learning algorithm, and implemented with the Olympus Command & Control operating system, modern 2nd-Generation Ravens are cheaper to produce and can be retrofitted with various upgrades. However, due to their built-in centralized protocol governors, they are liable to neural-network attacks and require a dedicated personnel-based firewall system which can seriously hinder their deployment time.
While Raven’s designation varies by corporations, they typically follow the same format: generation-type-production year-serial designation.
A prime example would be CHIM2-B2065-IE-S9250:
Gen 2 - Chimera Type - Batch Produced in 2065 - Country Localized - Number 9250 of the production line.
Performance & Reliability
Following the destruction of Corvus research facilities on Black Tuesday, many projects and blueprints were lost, leading the United Coalition and the Yalta Accord to produce their own models. Without the original blueprints, these second-generation Ravens are less-optimized compared to their parent models. As such, they are liable to occasional systemic malfunctions and abrupt breakdowns. However, due to their simplistic emulation of the original blueprints, they require less spare parts to repair and are considered modular enough for budget augmentations.
Overall, post-Black Tuesday Raven productions on both sides roughly score a 92% in quality control. With the implementation of advanced combat training programs, surviving Ravens distinguish themselves by their complex self-evolving algorithms as they age. The average lifespan of a typical Raven ranges from five to nine months in extreme combat conditions. Those that managed to live past ten months are often selected for Special Forces training. Thus the disparating survival odds between a regular Raven and the more combat-experienced ones.
Reliability issues with these 2nd-generation Ravens reside in their overly-demanding tasks and intense combat maneuvers, that oftentimes triple the average combat operation with humans. This led to a high demand for industrialized ambrosia that serves as the fundamental resource to fuel the Ravens, thus further escalating the global conflict. Another factor is the lack of empathy from their respective high-command, which led to some disastrous outcome that resulted in the loss of elite Ravens during the early days of the Third World War.
A-Fuel
Alpha-Fuel (also called A-Fuel) is an essential nanite liquid for androids. First commercialized by Corvus Industries as a patent battery supply for their primary product line of androids, A-Fuel’s recipe remained to this day a mystery to its primary consumers. This liquid compound was designed as Raven's equivalent of a field dressing, as well as their source of sustenance. A-Fuel is typically administered orally or injected intravenously.
COMBAT AUGMENTATIONS (UPGRADES)
Following the latest data collected by Ceto, upgrades for Ravens come in two forms: recursive data synchronization and frame retrofit.
Recursive Data Synchronization (Passive - Technique Improvements)
By gathering combat data, as well as collecting intel during missions for Ceto to process, Ravens is actively contributing to the Exodus’s Research & Development efforts. Any information processed in this form enables Ravens to adjust their abilities based on implementation of learned strategies and improvised tactical acumen.
Frame Retrofit (Active - Modular Attachments)
Salvaged or scavenged materials on the field are processed by the Exodus’ crew following exfiltration, which in turn, can be refurbished and crafted into a variety of equipment. When enough eligible materials are collected for Ceto, these materials can be used to augment a Raven’s offensive and defensive capabilities. External cope cages, sturdier or lighter armor, mounted countermeasures, reload-assist appendages, multirole traversal exoskeleton, inventory spaces, etc.
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PROMETHEAN
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PROMETHEAN
Overview
Created from the fires of the Black Tuesday Incident, Prometheans are individuals exposed to Ambrosia, but were able to achieve a black body state. They are able to manipulate and utilize thermal equilibrium with certain objects and magnetic frequencies - granting them supernatural abilities.
Prometheans are classified by the Radovich Grade based on three specific traits: mutation, congenital, and artificial. Collective research worldwide since the Black Tuesday Incident concluded that a promethean’s ability is often associated with their past and personality. Prometheans possess a Deucalium ability, marked by a incandesence symbol on their bodies. Every Promethean has a special blackbody radiation pattern that determines their abilities and attributes.
Spartoi for Hire
While received with great controversy by the common population, Prometheans are sought after by military and security contractors for their supernatural combat abilities. Meanwhile, their circumstances also make them a prime category of trial subjects for research into the origins and effects of Ambrosia.
Radovich Dosimeter
A device used to measure ambrosia radiation and keep tabs on a Promethean’s assimilation threshold. It can continuously provide readout of cumulative dose and existing dose rate, as well as warning the wearer when a specified dose rate or a cumulative dose is exceeded. While often issued in the forms of bracelets, RaDosis can be refitted and worn anywhere for the operator’s convenience.
Deucalium
Deucalium refers to a Promethean’s ability, typically adhering to the relations of their mutation and past. While the range of abilities may vary depending on the Promethean’s ability to maintain their radiation equilibrium, they all exhibit the same detrimental symptoms and side-effects that require extensive monitoring by medical staff on hand. Deucalium varies, depending on a Promethean’s adaptability to their innate altermagnetic radiation, and/or aided by artificial augmentations. To name a few plausible deucalium but are not limited to: superhuman strength and reflex, elemental manipulation, materialization, and genome alteration.
Cooking (Corruption)
By manually releasing their Deucalium Governors, Prometheans are able to overclock their ideal threshold of Deucalium regulation and unleash a high concentration of dark energy to complement their attacks. However, exerting one's mental capacity and an exhausted emotional state can lead to Cooking - where the idealized black body state is no longer reciprocating the same amount of radioactive equilibrium, causing the Promethean to lose control of their Deucalium. Going beyond one's Threshold while having low stability puts a Promethean at risk of Cooking - often leading to disastrous consequences or accelerating their Radovich Exposure corruption.
Radovich Exposure Disease and Ambrosia
Considered as the origin of the Radovich Exposure Disease, ambrosia is ever present within a Promethean’s system, carrying the risk of leading to loss of cognitive functions and complete mutation via genome assimilation - effectively transforming them into a RED. Prometheans that cook their threshold for long periods of time tend to display symptoms of cognitive impairments, aggressive behaviors, psychological dissonance and in rare cases of severe cerebral damage - the shutdown of vital organs and instant death.
In an effort to keep ambrosium corruption at bay, a Promethean’s Radovich Scale level is often measured and monitored, with active prescriptions of a suppressant known as Darron.
THEOGONY PROGRAM (UPGRADES)
By studying the myths that surrounded Ambrosia, their Olympian connections, and applying it to contemporary pragmatic observations, one can hope to maintain their humanity, or perhaps even unravel the mysteries of mankind’s dormant potentials.
Hecatomb Traces (Passive - Unlocking Dormant Traits)
As testament to the eponymous titan (Prometheus) that gave fire to man, and in turn the creation of Prometheans, the Hecatomb Tracing program aims to draw the genome connection to the ancient deities’ genealogy and wakes the derivatives of a Promethean’s Ambrosia mutation. Comparable to obtaining the favors of the Olympian pantheon and their Titan predecessors, a Promethean’s Hecatomb Trace can be unlocked via a series of rituals practiced by ancient korybantes. When enough “favors” are accumulated through these specific rituals, a Promethean can realize their full innate potentials or inherit special circumstantial “blessings” in combat. Various artifacts and labors are required, depending on the cult entrusted to the Promethean in question, for the ritual to take proper effect.
Harmonics Treatment (Active - Deucalium Output)
By isolating the perceivable frequencies of existing concentrations of ambrosia in a Promethean’s body, more can be learned from Prometheans’ abilities and connection to the Radovich Exposure altermagnetic reactions. Using the basis of popular Greco-Roman epics that are ciphered in hexameters, such as the Iliad or Aeneid, the Hexameter Harmonics program aims to decipher certain reactive frequencies to absorb harmonic currents and expand on its output composition. In doing so, Prometheans are able to regulate their deucalium abilities better and maximize the output of their techniques for combat.
By collecting obscure historical or recorded oral accounts, Ceto can decipher and prescribe the appropriate “labors”, either subliminal or direct resonance simulations, to help Prometheans cultivate their deucalium.
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FACTIONS
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FACTIONS
Exodus / Exodites
A roving band of survivors, under no flag, answering the calls of those in need. Exodites, members of the Exodus, regardless of their past affiliations or beliefs, have taken up a creed to support each other and rove the high seas.
“To the shores unknown, mending the waves that we rove.”
Creed of the Exodites
Radovich Exposure Disease / REDs
Aggressive mutants believed to have been exposed to a high concentration of ambrosia, with reinforced skin that requires extra firepower to defeat. While the nature of REDs differ by source, they are responsible for expediting the near-extinction of humankind.
“A mirror of our darkest nature - exposed and materialized as our worst nightmares.”
Lars Gruenfelder, United Coalition Spokesman
United Coalition
Following the collapse of the United States, NATO found itself helpless against the Russia-led Accord which sought to establish a new world order under their banner. Holding onto their ideals of a diverse but free union, the remaining members of NATO formed the United Coalition to act as a bulwark against Russian advances from the east.
“In the shadow of the absent Giant, we stand firm to preserve our liberties.”
Capitaine de fregate Maris Surin, Commando Jaubert
Yalta Accord
The Yalta Accord was formed out of necessity, following a successful coup which sought to unite the world under one system of government. Incentivized by the long-standing efforts of the collective West to curb Russian influence and emboldened by the Second American Civil War, as well as their recently-acquired Raven forces, Russia looked to expand her borders. The only thing standing between them and the United Coalition to the west is the treacherous Jotunheim.
“Bialystok showed the Coalition’s true colors. We, too, will show no quarters.”
Senior Lieutenant Andrei Lagoshin, 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division
The Minutemen
The Minutemen is an American militia unit founded during the Second American Civil War, responsible for the general defense of New Dixie against the Red threat. The Minutemen are a composite unit of Promethean, Raven and human personnel.
“Anymore yappin’ and we’re gonna unsweeten your tea.”
James Long, Governor of South Carolina
League of Heavenly Prosperity
Plunged into a brief civil war that led to the collapse of the Chinese Communist Party, China was split among contending warlords. In an effort to combat the RED threat and Russia’s expansion, while retaining their own gains, the warlords agreed to form the shaky League of Heavenly Prosperity with Qingdao established as a neutral ground for diplomacy and conventions.
“The Middle Kingdom, long united, must now divide. Glory to those who dared to dream.”
General Murong Jian, Warlord of Southern Hebei
Governorate of Vera Cruz
The Governorate of Vera Cruz was formed out of necessity following the Black Tuesday incident. As one of the few nations left standing, Brazil led the union of Vera Cruz to keep the REDs at bay. Following the assimilation of Ukraine into the Accord, Vera Cruz became the largest independent source of agricultural export. Novo Paraiso is a peculiar land where REDs are tamed and incorporated into society as a secondary labor force, utilizing a mysterious device that is considered as the paradise's Forbidden Fruit.
“While the Jungle Brigade continues to reclaim the northern lands, Novo Paraiso remains steadfast as the lighthouse of the New World.”
Ademir Teixeira, Governorate General of Vera Cruz
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TIMELINE
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PRECLASSICAL
The Long Count Calendar (~2000 B.C.)
Attributed to the deity Itzamna for its creation, the Calendar was said to be among the first and oldest artifacts on earth that housed the knowledge of time and space. It is speculated to be an Akashic piece that fell through the dissonance of time. According to Neo-Orphists, it is considered as the prime Key to humanity's future.
Trojan War (~1184 B.C.)
According to the Orphic legacy, the Olympians’ various interventions in the Trojan War led to the end of the heroic age and the withdrawal of their presence in the world. Neo-Orphists believe that the war was a prophetic prelude to the end times where the gods would return with their demigod children to reclaim the world. They revere Prometheans as the messengers of the gods' will - responsible for the shaping of the New World.
The First Oneiric Anomaly (~400 B.C.)
The first recorded Oneiric Anomaly that was speculated by contemporary researchers to be connected to the disappearance of the Olmecs. This led to the loss of the mythic Calendar and the subsequent appearances of Akashic artifacts throughout history.
CLASSICAL ERA
The Terracotta Army (220 B.C.)
Traces of neutralized ambrosia, colloquially called weak water in Chinese mythology, was discovered and experimented by Emperor Qin Shi Huang as the first attempt to create artificial soldiers. According to the fragmented records of the Jixia Academy, they were created, alongside the Twelve Metal Collosi as a force to suppress and defeat extradimensional invaders.
Domitian’s Finest (86 A.D.)
First recorded form of industrialized ambrosia used in combat by Roman frumentarii against warriors of unknown origins - believed to be harbingers of another world. Though many historians attributed these telltales to propagate the war in Dacia by Emperor Domitian.
Fate of the Ninth Legion (120 A.D.)
The loss of the Ninth Legion is attributed to the discovery of an Oneiric gate. Without sufficient documents of the legion’s existence between 120 A.D. and 197 A.D., it is speculated that the legion found an extradimensional gateway and never returned. This sudden disappearance is believed to be connected to later disappearances in the 20th century.
Philosopher’s Stone (~300 A.D.)
Zosimos of Panapolis, first mentioned the Philosopher’s Stone in their work - Cheirokmeta.
He asserted that Azazel had taught humankind metallurgy, which gave birth to the Philosopher’s Stone as a powerful artifact that could be used to treat all forms of illnesses. Meanwhile, others attributed it as the source of the manifestation of REDs.
MEDIEVAL ERA
Durandal (778)
The legendary sword Durandal used by Roland, one of Charlemagne's paladins, was said to be a rare Akashic piece. Some speculated it could be a fragment forged from the legendary Sword of Troy. It is rumored to be able to cut through REDs with ease and can amplify a Promethean's deucalium.
Legenda Aurea (1265)
Hagiographies recorded instances of earlier encounters with extradimensional beings and REDs. Several bestiaries followed as secret establishments continued to safeguard earth from aetherial incursions.
The Fountain of Youth (1492)
In pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone, the Grimaldi and their contingent of condottieri ended up in the New World, where they allegedly discovered a reservoir of mysterious fluid (later identified as Substance Ambrosia by a British agent in the 19th century), attributing to the myth of the Fountain of Youth. One of the condottieri, left for dead by the Grimaldi, managed to escape. Years later, they would return to the New World with the backing of a Spanish Conquistador - in search of the Fountain’s ethereal fluid which saved their life. The stone was supposedly retrieved by the Grimaldis and sent back to Genoa.
Ponce de Leon’s Expedition (1521)
Stirred by the legend of the Fountain of Youth, Juan Ponce de León led an expedition to Florida, while under the guise of colonizing Florida. A band of unnamed European knights, by this time, had arrived in the New World, where they aided the Calusa people in safeguarding the secrets of the fountain. In a skirmish, they managed to stem Ponce de Leon’s ambitions, where the latter succumbed to his wounds. The legend of the mystical waters would eventually fade into oblivion.
EARLY MODERN ERA
Lewis & Clark Expedition (1806)
The Philosopher’s Stone was discovered and recovered by York, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Alleged accounts of his final journey to Montana placed the Philosopher’s Stone’s last known location in the Americas.
Events of Project Syndicate: Act I (1856 - 1867)
Signora Maria Grimaldi and her Associates aided a Vietnamese warrior known as “Tamerlane” in recapturing Tourane from the French and Spanish in 1860. In return, they provided Grimaldi safe passage through to Japan, where they could go on to California without hindrance. This led to creation of a Syndicate outpost in California and the eventual rediscovery of the Philosopher’s Stone amidst the American Civil War.
End of Auburn Parable (1867)
Sergeant Black and Miss Summer, as part of Her Majesty Foreign Affairs Service, neutralized a prominent criminal syndicate and inadvertently found the Philosopher’s Stone during their visit to Galveston. Their mysterious disappearance, along with any mentions of the stone later that year would mark the last time the stone appeared in history.
MODERN ERA
Mystery of Celtic Wood (1917)
During a diversionary attack in Celtic Wood near Passchendale in 1917, 71 men of the 1st Australian Division were reported missing. Based on recent findings, it is speculated that they found themselves trapped in an Oneiric Anomaly.
Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis (1923)
Lieutenant Colonel Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis, regarded as one of the US Marine Corps' primary theorists due to his prophetic advocacy of amphibious operations prior to the war with Japan, is currently considered as one of the rare historical cases of those that possessed an innate connection with the Oneiric Realm. His mysterious death in 1923 led to speculations of an assassination. It was not until 2066 that details of his covert spying reports were declassified with intels on Akashic artifacts, extradimensional incursions and the existence of Oneiric gateways.
Tuskegee Experiment (1935)
An unethical human experimentation by exposing the test subjects to Ambrosia. Many documents involved were destroyed when it was exposed to the public.
Battle of Stalingrad (1942)
During the battle of Stalingrad, heavy fighting in the city unearthed an Akashic artifact capable of dispensing a substantial amount of energy - of which was retrieved and transported back to Germany for research by their occult division. The artifact disappeared following the conclusion of the war, which coincided with the rising interest in space flight and the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Flight 19 (1945)
Related research of the Oneiric Anomaly connected traces of ambrosia where Flight 19 was reported missing in 1945. Following the Black Tuesday Incident, the last reported coordinates of the missing Flight 19 off the coast of Florida is currently inhabited by dangerous Ketos-class REDs.
Badaber Uprising (1985)
During the Soviet-Afghan War, a rebellion was staged by Soviet and Afghan prisoners of war who were being held at the Badaber fortress near Peshawar, Pakistan. The uprising ended when the fortress was destroyed by an explosion. Declassified files by the CIA later revealed that the explosion was caused by the POWs themselves in an effort to seal an Oneiric gateway. This uprising, as well as many other anomalous events during the course of the Cold War would encourage both the United States and the Soviet Union to weaponize these findings. This would culminate in the advancement of robotics and enhancements in both the United States and Russia respectively.
Gift of Fire (2008)
During the Russo-Georgian War, a GRU Spetsnaz unit stumbled upon a mass grave atop Mount Kazbek with bodies of Georgian and Russian troops involved in a firefight. The fighters were reportedly engaged against an unknown creature with wings. Faint traces of ambrosia were misidentified as a stray depleted uranium round that landed within the vicinity. The site was later revisited and cordoned off by Russian troops for further research and investigations - contributing to the breakthrough in stabilizing pure ambrosia by the 2040s.
Events of Project Syndicate: Act III (2015 - 2018)
Following an internal strife between different criminal groups, the triple-pact alliance of the Kinugasa yakuza family, 86 Dragons, and the Daewons fell apart and turned on each other. The CIA agent responsible for the chaos quickly tied up loose ends in the Asian theater and continued their pursuit of locating the fabled Veil of Berenike - believed to be an ancient artifact that could unlock the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone.
Operation Iron Crown (2020)
Activation of the Aquila Program’s first batch to dismantle the Syndicate. Some members of the Black Peony were speculated to be connected to the Aquila Program.
Ember Engine (2037)
Ambrostone was used by Pallas, leader of Tritical AG, to develop a powerful supercomputer for their successful virtual-reality shooter game - Frangible. Kept under wraps by Katya Nikishina, the Chairwoman of Momuland at the time, the experimentation with ambrostones was only made public when a mysterious organization known as Daimon attacked Tritical AG’s HQ in 2040. This technology allegedly inspired Corvus Industries to create the first generation of Ravens.
Events of Frangible (2040)
Gamers from various clans banded together to defeat Daimon in the virtual world, at the behest of Pallas's request. While they managed to stop Daimon from retrieving Pallas's Key in the virtual world, the Daimon's leader managed to get away, and made public the existence of ambrostones.
CONTEMPORARY ERA
The First Ravens (2055)
Marketed first by Corvus Industries as a surrogate security alternative, RAVEN made their debut in ongoing UN peacekeeping operations. Rumors alleged the involvement of ex-Frangible players as the founding fathers and mothers of the first Ravens, though these claims have been drowned out by Corvus public division over time.
The Kuzenov Coup (2060)
Backed by the military for his role in thwarting an espionage attempt by the United States to General Nikita Kuzenov, a known ultranationalist, took advantage of the confusion to overthrow the pro-Western President Luzhkov. The successful coup led to a remilitarization of Russia over the Ukrainian standoff situation.
Project Surtr (2062)
Taking inspiration from DARPA’s Project AGILE in the 1960s, Kalvis Manufacturing Company began developing their own distributed network program for Raven warfare by experimenting with individual weapon system upgrades, centralized digital framework and recursive cultivation algorithms. Among these subprojects was the ambitious neuronic consciousness transfer program, aimed to transfer a fallen soldier’s consciousness to a surrogate body. By 2065, they managed to achieve a breakthrough with the aid of an unknown Akashic relic, which saw significant performance for Ravens on the field. However, following the catastrophic outcome of Operation Nightmarcher in late 2066, several Ravens operating in Solina began to turn on their human allies.
Black Tuesday (2065)
October 20th, 2065. Black Tuesday was a series of coordinated attacks orchestrated by a rogue organization known as Black Peony - leading to the destabilization of the atmosphere and the birth of Radovich Exposure Disease. While the objective behind these attacks were unknown until present, it inadvertently or deliberately led to the destruction of an Ambrosia research facility off the coast of South Carolina and subsequently bringing humanity to near extinction.
At 0350h local time in the Urals, Russia, a missile silo was hijacked by Black Peony operatives dressed in American uniforms, including the air defense systems across the country in a series of coordinated attacks - leading to the utter destruction of the research facility - but not before sending a missile towards American soil. The missile, reportedly intercepted, managed to destroy a covert off-shore research facility that quickly dispersed a substantial amount of ambrosia and nuclear radiation into the atmosphere.
The American public became increasingly wary of their government following the ordeal - despite the media’s attempts to shift the blame to Russia as the perpetrator. Meanwhile, the Russian government, having recently undergone a military coup and remilitarization under Kuzenov, was poised for an American retaliation. Before a direct line of communication could be established, another missile silo in Germany was hijacked in the same manner by the Black Peony - leading to the utter destruction of Bryansk’s outskirts following its short-handed interception. Confusion followed, as more missiles began to fill the skies, as both superpowers sealed their mutually-assured destruction.
As both superpowers scrambled to tend to their wounds and mount combat operations against each other, a Chinese nuclear plant outside of Beijing exploded - ramping up the tensions and distrusts among the superpowers. Wiser words quickly drowned, pre-emptive missiles began to fill the skies - annihiliating most military installations, before combined arms began in earnest.
By the end of the day, much of the known world was thrown into chaos, bringing humanity to the brink of extinction while those that survived the ordeal looked on towards their seemingly bleak future.
The Red Scare
Days followed, as reports of mutant attacks began to surface - forcing warring powers to divert their resources and manpower to combat the new threat. Identified as the Radovich Exposure Disease, by its leading eponymous figure in the matter, Reds managed to overwhelm the standing armies all across the world within a short amount of time. The “Red Scare” quickly compelled nations to turn to private military companies for support. While many nations were able to fend for themselves, smaller sovereignties depended heavily on their PMC counterparts, leading to heavy friction between paramilitary organizations’ leverage on the government and the civil society. This is particularly prominent in the United States, where militia groups quickly rose to prominence that rivaled the standing government in Washington D.C. Meanwhile, the fallout of the Black Tuesday incident led to a massive forecast of inclement weather - resulting in the formation of catastrophic storms and disasters.
Prometheus’s Offsprings
With Ambrosia becoming the double-edged sword for humanity’s extinction and survival, infected individuals with supernatural abilities began to surface shortly after. Quickly integrated into fighting units or left to their own devices, these Prometheans brought many questions into the nature of ambrosia scientifically and philosophically. Several schools of research rose to prominence, denouncing and advocating for the Promethean’s existence. While occult sects began to form, worshipping Prometheans as demigods of the new world.
The War of Reclamation (2065 - 2067)
With much of Eastern Europe fallen to the Reds, and vital military installations wiped out by the exchange of nuclear missiles, Russia found itself fighting an uphill battle against the Red hordes. Suffering from heavy casualties and the supply shortcomings due to ambrosia cleanup, Russia and their Ukrainian brethren attempted to retain their remaining defensive structures and emplacements east of the Dniepr River. For two years, the Russian Army bled itself dry in an attempt to hold onto Moscow. With military production finally catching up with what remained of the Russian Army and their neighboring countries’ armed forces, Kuzenov sought after private military companies to secure the contact lines as human reinforcements became scarce. Sharing the same sentiments, many ex-Bloc members turned to Russia for support - resulting in the establishment of the Yalta Accord in 2066. Over the course of the War against the Reds, Russia improved its industrial capabilities and gained much experience in anti-Red combat operations.
Second American Civil War (2066 - 2070)
The Second American Civil War began in earnest in 2066 when the government failed to provide for the American people as the Radovich Exposure Disease and Ember Phenomena wiped out much of the heavily-populated cities. The final straw came when martial law was enacted by Washington DC to maintain order in the northern states - leaving much of the south and west coast to fend for themselves. Out of the chaos, emerged the Western Commonwealth, New Dixie, and remnants of the Unionists to the north. Desperate for resources and security, the Divided States of America took to arms and isolated themselves to a conflict of their own making. After 4 years of bitter skirmishes, while having to fend off the onslaught of the RED threat, the three contenders agreed to an informal halt to their operations, leading to the establishment of a no-man’s land that encompasses much of the midwestern states. The brief moment of respite in 2070 led to renewed innovation of pharmaceutical pursuit in the South to combat the Reds.
Bialystok Incident (2066)
Refusing refugees from the east, several cases of civilian massacres by Coalition forces began to surface in eastern Europe, especially towards Russians. Failure of communication between the West and Russia, as well as their allies, distrust quickly grew - particularly with the recent founding of the Yalta Accord. In late 2066, a company of Russian paratroopers was able to secure the interior of Bialystok in Poland, with hopes of maintaining a forward operating base to rescue refugees and establish contact with the West. However, when they attempted to make contact, the paratroopers were ambushed by Coalition troops with only a handful of survivors that managed to escape the slaughter. When news of this incident reached Yalta, Kuzenov was further determined to push west. Since the incident, Coalition and Accord recon incursions into each other’s territories became more prevalent, though with little to no success.
Operation Nightmarcher (2066)
Originally developed as a subproject for Surtr to augment Raven fighting capabilities, the Laevateinn Occlusion System Transmission is a virus created around the core of Kalvis Manufacturing Company’s data and framework. Laevateinn opened the path for the possibility of Raven peer-to-peer neural warfare - primarily by network cyber kill chain and transhumanist innovations. First deployed in action against Accord forces in Solina, the Laevateinn managed to deliver its initial payload of a neural bomb. However, the team involved find themselves fighting against their own Raven companions. While no one knew exactly what went wrong, Kalvis was forced to enact the Gjallarhorn Protocol to prevent the virus from spreading to other Ravens near the contact line. As a result of the Nightmarcher incident, Coalition began shelling the facility in Solina to cover their tracks, with the Accord doing the same as a response to the prior’s presence in the region after the Bialystok Incident just weeks prior.
Giltine’s Jotunheim (2066)
Rumors began to spread of Laevateinn’s reach to the contact lines of both the Coalition and the Accord, as unidentified movements of gargantuan war machines were reported all across the front. Laevateinn-assimilated Ravens were reported by the Accord to have developed a centralized commanding consciousness of its own, which they have identified as Giltine. It became apparent to both belligerents by the end of 2066 that Giltine had restarted the underground Raven factories that were lost to the Reds. While their objectives remain unknown, Giltine was deemed a threat to both the Coalition and the Accord by 2067. Constant indiscriminate shelling and perforation of ballistic missiles to wipe out Reds and Laevateinn-infected Ravens from both sides turned much of eastern Europe into a barren, hellish landscape. The 700km stretch of land between the Coalition and the Accord would come to be known as Jotunheim - land of Reds and Giltine’s giants.
Takamagahara (2067)
Two years after the Black Tuesday Incident, Japan finalized its construction of the Sky Island of A Thousand Petals, named Takamagahara. With much of its main islands overrun by REDs, Takamagahara serves as a haven for the survivors. Powered by a series of double-helix engines and sustainable ambrostones, the floating city rivals that of Novo Paraiso in terms of scale and defensive capabilities. Casting its shadows off the coast of Honshu, the gargantuan floating city is designed similar to a multi-star fortress. With each district layered similarly to overlapping petals of a flower. Adhering to its strict immigration policies, much of Takamagahara’s inhabitants are wary of strangers and foreigners, unwilling to leave the cradle they have built for themselves. By 2070, their ever-declining birthrate led them to pursue unnatural repopulation policies, though the exact details are unknown to the rest of the world.
Construction of the Silver Walls (2065 - 2068)
Meanwhile, the collective West quickly established the construction of a series of walls stretching from the Baltics to the Adriatic in a bid to seal and contain the Red threat from the east. Though many speculated that they were also meant to deter an Accord invasion.
The Lviv Campaign (2068 - 2070)
Driven by vengeance for the Bialystok Incident, and fueled by NATO’s refusal of Moscow’s ceasefire, the Yalta Accord drove west and north, utilizing the latest combat android technologies and private military contracting policies to dominate the battlefield. With Lviv as their primary objective to establish a fortress in western Ukraine, the Accord paid in blood and metal as they ventured west into the Red-infested lands. Within 2 years, they were able to regain much of eastern Ukraine, but was forced to halt their advance outside of Lviv in order to maintain and reorganize their vulnerable supply route.
League-Accord Border War (2069)
Ambitious Warlords in northern China were quick to seize some Russian territories while they were preoccupied with the West. However, their movements were quickly halted by infighting and the increasing presence of Reds. Pockets of Russian resistance were organized by one of Kuzenov’s best generals, which saw great successes against the divided Chinese forces. The frontlines ground to a stalemate when Reds began to emerge from the eastern seas, forcing the eastern warlords to divert their forces to protect their coastal territories.
Present Time (2070)
By 2070, much of the world remains divided by war and strife while unnatural disasters caused by the Ember Phenomena continue to choke the life out of the remaining survivors - plunging the world into a dark age.
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INTEL
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THE EXODUS
Previously designated as the USS Endeavor by the United States Navy, the ship is commandeered by Captain James Kuechler and mostly staffed by Ravens. Following the collapse of the United States and the outbreak of the Second American Civil War in 2066, Kuechler reprogrammed the Ravens aboard the Endeavor and had their central-command protocol removed, before sailing off to rescue stranded sailors near Hawaii.
The Exodus is a Constellation Class multi-mission frigate, installed with general-purpose modules to augment combat capabilities at sea and on land. Weighing 7,400 tons (8,000 tons at full load), and with a top speed of 31 knots (57 km/h). For defensive capabilities, the Exodus is equipped with AN/SLQ-32 Electronic warfare and an assortment of Mk.36 and Mk.53 countermeasure decoy launching systems.
The Exodus currently complements 200 Dexamene-type Raven crew for its day-to-day operation, and an additional 50 Cercopes-model marine Ravens for security and ground operations.
Main Armaments
General Purpose - Mk.110 57mm Naval Automatic Gun L/70 for general purpose firepower against land and sea threats.
Missiles - Vertical Launching System (VLS) with BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles for ground targets and RIM-162 Sea Sparrow defensive missiles.
Anti-Ship - Canister-launched anti-ship Naval Strike Missile system.
CIWS - RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile pods and 20mm Phalanx turret.
Auxiliary Small-Arms - Rear-starboard small-arms mount for 12.7mm heavy machine gun and 40mm grenade launchers.
Facilities
Bridge - The cockpit used by the captain and officers to chart and plan a course.
Berthing Quarters - A cabin designated for human crews to rest, while androids have their separate recharge stations under the bridge.
Armory - A designated small-arms space for weapon storage and modifications, located between the hangar bay and primary muster station that leads to the general galley below or the berthing quarters above.
Galley - Designated cafeteria for the crew to dine and relax with a cup of joe.
Vivarium - Enclosed area for onboard horticultural and aquacultural pursuits, regulated by automated hydroponic system and an advanced monitoring hardwares. Exodite vegetables and shrimps are home-grown. Due to the limited capacity, beef and pork are often imported from mainland.
Mission Bay - An integrated service area with two windows below the flight deck that allows for the deployment of rigid inflatable boats or recovery of personnel and crafts.
Hangar Bay - Sporting a hangar bay, the ship contains a MH-60S Seahawk and two M1161 Growler vehicles for ground operations, with auxiliary rooms being used for housing and medical stations.
Primary Muster Station - Designated indoor area for mission briefings located between the hangar bay and the mission bay.
FILES ARCHIVE
>Recording: The Odyssey<
“For the Phaeacians have no pilots, nor steering-oars such as other ships have, but their ships of themselves understand the thoughts and minds of men, and they know the cities and rich fields of all peoples, and most swiftly do they cross over the gulf of the sea, hidden in mist and cloud, nor ever have they fear of harm or ruin.”
“I wondered what kind of AI they had thousands of years ago.”
>File: The Cybelean Connection<
Notes extracted from one of the few surviving fragments of the mystical Sibylline Books.
It is believed that the Trojan hero Aeneas possessed the ichor of the gods by Aphrodite. In other sources, he was accredited as Vidar, the slayer of Fenrir - laying the claim that Romulus and Remus were raised among the remaining Fimbulwinter wolves, once under command of the mighty Fenrir tamed by their ancestor Aeneas. Foregoing the claims of various Roman mythographers, by Sibylline Books, Troy allegedly housed a powerful artifact able to command REDs - attributed to the theme of bloodline by Aeneas’s journey.
>File: The Cybelean Connection 2<
Credited as a mystery goddess and later attributed as the Trojan goddess that governed Aeneas’s journey and eventual founding of Rome by his descendants Romulus and Remus, Cybele is recently conceived as a figure capable of shaping nations. Among many other deities that existed, contemporary researchers and occult groups have labelled her as an active figure in the defeat of Carthage. Some theorists believed that Cybele was a code name for an early attempt to maintain confidential information regarding the existence of ambrosia and how the Romans managed to utilize them to subjugate much of the Mediterranean world.
>File: Hundred Schools of Thought<
Having conquered Qi, Emperor Qin Shi Huang laid their hands on the research of scholars from the Jixia Academy, leading to one of the first attempts at artificial avatars as enforcers. Following extensive exposure to weak water (ambrosia), Qin Shi Huang’s gradual impairment and paranoia led to the purges of scholars and burnt records in 213 BC. While the detailed specifications of the Terracotta Army were destroyed or lost, a recorded fragment of a scholar from the Hundred Schools of Thought survived.
This fragment was gifted to Captain Kuechler by the warlord Wei Jiang of Liaoning. The fragment, translated by Ceto, revealed an early attempt of waidan (external alchemy with luted crucible) by the Qins to stabilize xiandan (a proto attempt at IMC-46). From the notes, Ceto has since developed a soft-synthesis method for operators on the field, thereby allowing them to convert salvaged ambrostones to other materials with ease.
>File: Ravenous Appetite<
Direct Neural Artificer allows for Ravens to adjust the molecular reactions of the A-Fuel they consumed to simulate a human’s tastebuds.
>File: Rise of Neo-Orphism<
Neo-Orphics refers to those who believe that exposure to ambrosia is the next step to human evolution, not technological advances such as Raven technology. Predominantly based in the Divided States’ No Man’s Land and the Warsaw Demarcation Zone, Neo-Orphics have created a paramilitary RED-augmented cult that preyed primarily on Ravens, who they deemed as a product of mankind’s hubris, and on those that wished to retain their humanity and defy the gods. Meanwhile, Prometheans are welcomed with open arms and often worshipped as Orpheus’s Chosen demigods.
>File: Hecatomb<
Among the first attempts to develop the Harmonics Treatment program, Ceto and Kuechler finally found their first volunteer during a shipping mission in Saigon. Undergoing the direct resonance simulations, the Promethean subject displayed an incremental increase in melee precision scoring, while contributing to a vivid cerebral projection of the simulation - replicating phantoms of loyal warriors that aided them in the simulation’s combat. Further post-trial data suggests a connection to the already-deciphered hexameters of the Iliad. This gave rise to the expansion of the Hecatomb Tracing Program, as a means to complement the existing Harmonics Treatment as a means to retrieve and study Prometheans’ preexisting connection to the recurring influences of mythical legends.
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